
inspra
Inspra (Eplerenone) is an aldosterone antagonist used to treat Hypertension, Systolic Heart Failure.
Eplerenone · by Upjohn
Available as a generic: Eplerenone
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Eplerenone
- Drug class
- Aldosterone Antagonist
- Form
- Tablet
- Strength
- Eplerenone 100MG · Eplerenone 25MG · Eplerenone 50MG
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- hypertension, systolic heart failure
- Manufacturer
- Upjohn
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$10.55 for 30 — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA021437
What is Inspra?
From the FDA label:INSPRA contains eplerenone, a blocker of aldosterone binding at the mineralocorticoid receptor. Eplerenone is chemically described as Pregn-4-ene-7,21-dicarboxylic acid, 9,11-epoxy-17-hydroxy-3-oxo-, γ-lactone, methyl ester, (7α,11α,17α)-. Its empirical formula is C 24 H 30 O 6 and it has a molecular weight of 414.50. The structural formula of eplerenone is represented below: Eplerenone is an odorless, white to off-white crystalline powder. It is very slightly soluble in water, with its solubility essentially pH-independent. The octanol/water partition coefficient of eplerenone is approximately 7.1 at pH 7.0. INSPRA tablets for oral administration contain 25 mg or 50 mg of eplerenone and the following inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, red iron oxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide. structural formula of eplerenone
How to use
HFrEF Post-MI: Initiate treatment with 25 mg once daily. Titrate to maximum of 50 mg once daily within 4 weeks, as tolerated. Dose adjustments may be required based on potassium levels. ( 2.1 ) Hypertension: 50 mg once daily, alone or combined with other antihypertensive agents. For inadequate response, increase to 50 mg twice daily. Higher dosages are not recommended. ( 2.2 ) For all patients: Measure serum potassium before starting INSPRA and periodically thereafter. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Heart Failure Post-Myocardial Infarction Initiate treatment at 25 mg once daily and titrate to the recommended dose of 50 mg once daily, preferably within 4 weeks as tolerated by the patient. Once treatment with INSPRA has begun, adjust the dose based on the serum potassium level as shown in Table 1. Table 1. Dose Adjustment in Heart Failure Post-MI Serum Potassium (mEq/L) Dose Adjustment <5.0 25 mg every other day to 25 mg once daily 25 mg once daily to 50 mg once daily 5.0-5.4 No adjustment 5.5-5.9 50 mg once daily to 25 mg once daily 25 mg once daily to 25 mg every other day 25 mg every other day to withhold ≥6.0 Withhold and restart at 25 mg every other day when potassium levels fall to <5.5 mEq/L 2.2 Hypertension The recommended starting dose of INSPRA is 50 mg administered once daily. The full therapeutic effect of INSPRA is apparent within 4 weeks. For patients with an inadequate blood…
Side effects
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: • Hyperkalemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] HFrEF Post-MI: Most common adverse reactions (>2% and more frequent than with placebo): hyperkalemia and increased creatinine. ( 6.1 ) Hypertension: In clinical studies, adverse reactions with INSPRA were uncommon. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Viatris at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Heart Failure Post-Myocardial Infarction In EPHESUS, safety was evaluated in 3307 patients treated with INSPRA and 3301 placebo-treated patients. The overall incidence of adverse events reported with INSPRA (78.9%) was similar to placebo (79.5%). Adverse events occurred at a similar rate regardless of age, gender, or race. Patients discontinued treatment due to an adverse event at similar rates in either treatment group (4.4% INSPRA vs. 4.3% placebo), with the most common reasons for discontinuation being hyperkalemia, MI, and abnormal renal function. Adverse reactions that occurred…
Warnings
Important safety information
Hyperkalemia: Patients with decreased renal function, diabetes, proteinuria or patients who are taking ACEs and ARBs, NSAIDs or moderate CYP3A inhibitors are at increased risk. Monitor serum potassium levels and adjust dose as needed. ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Hyperkalemia The risk of hyperkalemia is higher in patients with impaired renal function, proteinuria, diabetes and those concomitantly treated with ACEs, ARBs, NSAIDs and moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Minimize the risk of hyperkalemia with proper patient selection and monitoring [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) , Contraindications (4) , Adverse Reactions (6.2) , and Drug Interactions (7) ] . Monitor patients for the development of hyperkalemia until the effect of INSPRA is established. Patients who develop hyperkalemia (5.5-5.9 mEq/L) may continue INSPRA therapy with proper dose adjustment. Dose reduction decreases potassium levels. Patients on moderate CYP3A inhibitors that cannot be avoided should have their dose of eplerenone reduced [see Drug Interactions (7.2) ] .
Who should not take Inspra
For All Patients INSPRA is contraindicated in all patients with: • serum potassium >5.5 mEq/L at initiation, • creatinine clearance ≤30 mL/min, or • concomitant administration of strong CYP3A inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, ritonavir, and nelfinavir) [see Drug Interactions (7.1) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . For Patients Treated for Hypertension INSPRA is contraindicated for the treatment of hypertension in patients with: • type 2 diabetes with microalbuminuria, • serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dL in males or >1.8 mg/dL in females, • creatinine clearance <50 mL/min, or • concomitant administration of potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., amiloride, spironolactone, or triamterene) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Adverse Reactions (6.2) , Drug Interactions (7) , and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . For all patients: • Serum potassium >5.5 mEq/L at initiation ( 4 ) • Creatinine clearance ≤30 mL/min ( 4 ) • Concomitant use with strong CYP3A inhibitors ( 4 , 7.1 ) For the treatment of hypertension: • Type 2 diabetes with microalbuminuria ( 4 ) • Serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dL in males, >1.8 mg/dL in females ( 4 ) • Creatinine clearance <50 mL/min ( 4 ) • Concomitant use of potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics ( 4 )
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
No cases of human overdosage with eplerenone have been reported. Lethality was not observed in mice, rats, or dogs after single oral doses that provided C max exposures at least 25 times higher than in humans receiving eplerenone 100 mg/day. Dogs showed emesis, salivation, and tremors at a C max 41 times the human therapeutic C max , progressing to sedation and convulsions at higher exposures. The most likely manifestation of human overdosage would be anticipated to be hypotension or hyperkalemia. Eplerenone cannot be removed by hemodialysis. Eplerenone has been shown to bind extensively to charcoal. If symptomatic hypotension should occur, supportive treatment should be instituted. If hyperkalemia develops, standard treatment should be initiated.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
CYP3A Inhibitors: In post-MI HFrEF patients, do not exceed 25 mg once daily when used with moderate CYP3A inhibitors (e.g., verapamil, erythromycin, saquinavir, fluconazole). In patients with hypertension, initiate at 25 mg once daily. For inadequate blood pressure response, dosing may be increased to a maximum of 25 mg twice daily. ( 2.4 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) 7.1 CYP3A Inhibitors Eplerenone metabolism is predominantly mediated via CYP3A. Do not use INSPRA with drugs that are strong inhibitors of CYP3A [see Contraindications (4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . In post-MI HFrEF patients taking a moderate CYP3A inhibitor, do not exceed 25 mg once daily. In patients with hypertension taking a moderate CYP3A inhibitor, initiate at 25 mg once daily. For inadequate blood pressure response, dosing may be increased to a maximum of 25 mg twice daily [see Dosage and Administration (2.3 , 2.4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.2 ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists The risk of hyperkalemia increases when eplerenone is used in combination with an ACE inhibitor and/or an ARB. A close monitoring of serum potassium and renal function is recommended, especially in patients at risk for impaired renal function, e.g., the elderly [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . 7.3 Lithium A drug interaction study of eplerenone with lithium has not been conducted. Lithium toxicity has been reported in patients receiving lithium concomitantly with diuretics and ACE inhibitors. Serum lithium levels should be monitored frequently if INSPRA is administered concomitantly with lithium. 7.4 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) A drug interaction study of eplerenone with an NSAID has not been conducted. The administration of other potassium-sparing antihypertensives with NSAIDs has been shown to reduce the antihypertensive effect in some patients and result in severe hyperkalemia in patients with impaired renal function. Therefore, when INSPRA and NSAIDs are used concomitantly, monitor blood pressure and serum potassium levels.
Drug class
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Inspra ranks — best-rated aldosterone antagonist for:
Dosage forms
Tablet
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Inspra treat?
- Inspra (Eplerenone) may be used to treat hypertension, systolic heart failure, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How much does Inspra cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $10.55 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Carospir — about $2.68 on the same basis.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Inspra?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Inspra. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Inspra?
- Inspra is marketed by Upjohn. You can see Upjohn's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Inspra a brand-name or generic drug?
- Inspra is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Eplerenone. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Eplerenone are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Inspra available over the counter?
- No. Inspra is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Inspra come in?
- Inspra is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Inspra?
- Inspra is classified as aldosterone antagonist, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Inspra FDA-registered?
- Inspra is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021437. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Inspra safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Inspra. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Inspra?
- Inspra's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: • Hyperkalemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] HFrEF Post-MI: Most common adverse reactions (>2% and more frequent than with placebo): hyperkalemia and increased creatinine.… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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